Cutter-head for mining-machines.



J. W. STEDELIN & G. KLEIN. CUTTER HEAD FOR MINING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, I915. LIIAM, Patented Dec.14,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

TEEE]...

awmwtoz d COLUMBIA ILANOGRAPH CO-.WASHINOTON. D. c.

J. W. STEDELIN & G. KLEIN.

CUTTER HEAD FOR MINING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED JULY I. 1915.

1,164A2% Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH 60.,WASHINGTDN, D. c.

J. W. STEDELIN & G. KLEIN.

' CUTTER HEAD FOR MINING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 1. ms.

1L,16&A% Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- w/ 76 W i (5 6 Illiil'lll gwwamtoz-d Jam zu amzezb'w wi/bmeooao 902??? flit/ 6% COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,\v/\sHmGToN. u. c.

ITEU srnrrus raeuzr orrrb.

JOHN W. STEDELIN AND GEORGE KLEIN, OF CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS.

CUTTER-1-IEAD FOR MINING-MACHINES.

Application filed. July 1, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN W. STEDELIN and GEORGE KLEIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Centralia, in the county of Marion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutter-Heads for lifining-ldachines; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in mining machine cutter heads, and more particularly to those designed for use with chain breast machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which although being of extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive construction, will be highly eflicient and durable, unique provisions being made whereby certain parts may be renewed when worn, whereby such parts are effectively locked together when in use, and whereby the moving parts of the cutter head are effectively lubricated.

With the above general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cutter head constructed in accordance with our invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively front and rear edge views; Fig. 4: is an end view; Fig. 5 is a top plan view with the upper plate removed; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the top plate; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the central plate member; Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical transverse sections as seen along the planes indicated respectively by the lines 88 and 99 of Figs. 1 and 5; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section as viewed on the plane designated by the line 1010 of Figs. 1 and 5; Fig. 11 is a horizontal section as seen substantially along the plane designated by the line 11-11 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the wear strip.

In describing the invention, we shall refer to these drawings by similar reference characters placed on like parts throughout the several views,the numerals 1 and 1 des- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14:, 1915.

Serial No. 37,521

ignating respectively an upper and a lower horizontally disposed plate of substantially rectangular formation. Rotatably mounted between the front corners of the upper and lower plates, by means yet to be described, is a pair of sprocket wheels 2 which are adapted to guide the movement of the breast chain indicated at 3 in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. The front edge portions of the two plates 1 and l and the end portions of such plates, on the facing sides thereof, are reduced slightly in thickness to provide shoulders 4: and 4t against which the inner side of the chain is adapted to bear, while the outer side of such chain is to travel in contact with the track members 5 and 5 which are detachably secured by rivets or the like to the front and end portions of the two plates. lVhen these track members become so worn as to prevent effective operation thereof, they may be easily removed and new ones may be readily applied.

Disposed on edge between the upper and lower plates and extending substantially from the front edge of one sprocket wheel 2 to the front ends of the other wheel, is a wear strip 6 whose front face is disposed flush with the shoulders 4L and 4* at the front of the two plates, whereby the inner side of the breast chain is prevented from sagging rearwardly between the two sprockets. Projecting one from each end of the wear strip 6, is a pair of fingers 7 which converge rearwardly as clearly disclosed in Figs. 5, 11, and 12, such fingers being preferably formed as integral parts of the strip 6 by bending the opposite ends thereof in the necessary manner.

The plates 1 and 1 are provided respectively with substantially rectangular projections 8 and 8, said projections having rectilinear front edges 9 and 9' which contact with the rear side of the wear strip 6, and being provided with rearwardly converging ends 10 and 10 which are gripped tions 8 and 8 are also provided with rectilinear rear edges 11 and 11" respectively.

Tnterposed between the upper and lower plates 1 and 1, is a central plate member 12 having its opposite corners removed on arcs frictionally by the fingers 7. The projecas disclosed at 13 for the reception of the sprocket wheels 2, while the front edge port on of said plate between such corners thereof 1s reduced in thickness to slmultaneously provide a forwardly projecting L extension 14- and upper and lower seats having rectilinear rear edges 15 and 15', sald seats receiving therein the projections 8 and 8" respectively whose rear walls 11 and 11 contact with the shoulders 15 and 15 as clearly shown in a number of the figures.

The extension 14L is provided with a rectangular front edge 16 which closely abuts the rear side of the wear strip 6, and with apair of rearwardly converging ends 17 which are gripped by the fingers 7. With the parts in these positions, screws or other appropriate fasteners are provided to secure the upper and lower plates 1. and 1 and the central plate member 12 together, machine screws 18 and 18 being here shown as threaded respectively through said upper and lower plates and into the extension 1 1, whereby to hold these portions of the several members in rigid relation.

The upper and lower plates 1 and 1 are shown in the present embodiment of the invention as provided on their rear edges, near the opposite ends thereof, with rearwardly curving extensions 19 and 19 respectively which abut curved shoulders 20 and 20 formed respectively on the upper and lower sides of the central plate member 12, while immediately adjacent the aforesaid extensions, the two plates are provided with rectangular projections 21 and 21 which are received respectively in right angular seats 22 and 22 formed in the upper and lower sides of the plate member 12 and opening through the opposite side edges thereof, and into the cavities 13, additional. screws 23 and 23 being passed through the plates 1 and 1 the projections 21 and 21 thereon, and into the plate member 12 as most clearly disclosed in Fig. 9.

vBy constructing the cutter head in the manner above described, the same will be very efiicient in operation, it being evident that should breakage of either of the plates 1 and 1 or excessive wear on said plates take place, the defective part may be readily renewed without replacing the other elements of the head. Or, when the track members .5 and the wear strip 6 become worn, they may be easily replaced, this being particularly true in respect to the strip 6, since by removing the upper plate, the strip in question may be readily detached. It is to be observed, however, that such strip and the fingers 17 thereon, serve materially to hold the numerous parts of the head in fixed relation when assembled. However, in addition to the numerous novel characteristics already described, the efficiency of the machine is increased by providing reliable means whereby the sprocket wheels 2 may be lubricated.

In accomplishing this end (see more parcal bearing blocks 30 is provided, said blocks having on their lower ends depending studs 31 which are threaded into openings formed in the bottom plate 1 by left hand threads, if the breast chain 3 travel from left to right. The bearing blocks 30 are provided with upwardly opening threaded cavities 32 whose walls are provided with annular oil grooves 33 from which a pair of oil ducts 34 lead through the curved sides of the aforesaid blocks, whereby to effectively lubricate the hubs of the sprockets 2, which hubs surround and travel upon said sides. After a suflicient amount of lubr' :ating oil or grease has been deposited in the cavities 32, screw plugs 35 are passed through openings in the top plate 1 and threaded into said cavities, thus preventing entrance of dust, grit, etc. I

It is to be observed that the ducts 31 lead from the grooves 33 toward the corners of the plates 1 and 1, whereby to most effectively lubricate the parts of the bearings 30 and the sprockets 2 upon which the greatest amount of friction takes place, this being a rather salient feature.

For the purpose of attaching the cutter head to the machine, practically any preferred means may be provided, but the central plate member 12 is preferably provided on its opposite side edges with upstanding attaching flanges 50, while on its rear edge horizontally positioned flanges 51 are disposed, the several flanges being connected by suitable webs 52 for reinforcing purposes. The flanges 50 and 51 are bolted or riveted to the usual means provided at the front end of the mining machine proper as is well understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, it being therefore unnecessary to encumber the present application with illustration of such means.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that although the machine is comparatively inexpensive, it will be highly efficient and durable and will possess a number of advantageous characteristics.

In the drawings, certain specific details of construction have been shown for accomplishing probably the best results, and in the preceding such details have been described, but it will be evident that we need not be restricted thereto otherwise than to the extent to which the appended claims limit us:

We claim as our invention:

1. A cutter head for mining machines comprising an upper and a lower plate, a

pair of spaced horizontal wheels between the I each end of said wear strip and converging rearwardly therefrom, projections on the two plates disposed in contact with the rear side of the wear strip and having rearwardly converging ends gripped by the fingers, means spacing the two plates, and additional means connecting said plates.

2. A cutter head for mining machines comprising an upper and a lower plate, a pair of spaced horizontal wheels between the front corners of said plates adapted to guide a breast chain, a wear strip between the two plates extending substantially from the front edge of one wheel to the front edge of the other, a pair of fingers disposed one on each end of said wear strip and converging rearwardly therefrom, projections on the two plates disposed in contact with the rear side of the wear strip and having rearwardly converging ends gripped by the fingers, a central plate member between the upper and lower plates having an extension disposed in contact with the rear side of the wear strip and having rearwardly converging ends gripped by the fingers, and means securing the two plates and the central plate member together.

3. A cutter head for mining machines comprising an upper and a lower plate, a pair of spaced horizontal wheels between the front corners of said plates adapted to guide a breast chain, a wear strip between the two plates extending substantially from the front edge of one wheel to the front edge of the other, a pair of fingers disposed one on each end of said wear strip and converging rearwardly therefrom, a central plate member between the upper and lower plates having an extension disposed in contact with the rear side of the wear plate and having rearwardly converging ends gripped by the aforesaid fingers, and means securing the two plates and the central plate member together.

f. A cutter head for mining machines comprising an upper and a lower plate, a pair of spaced horizontal wheels between the front corners of said plates adapted to guide a breast chain, a wear strip between the two plates extending substantially from the front edge of one wheel to the front edge of the other, a pair of fingers disposed one on each end of said wear strip and converging rearwardly therefrom, projections on the two plates disposed in contact with the rear side of the wear strip and having rearwardly converging ends gripped by the fingers, a central plate member between the upper and lower plates having an extension disposed in contact with the rear side of the wear strip and having rearwardly converging ends gripped by the fingers, shoulders on the central member abutting the rear edges of the projections of the upper and lower plates, and means securing the two plates and said central member together.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. STEDELIN. GEORGE KLEIN. Witnesses:

METTA A. SMITH, RUTH SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

